Clutch mechanism



CLUTCH MECHANISM Original Filed March 19, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1936. o. H. BANKER 2,042,454-

CLUTCH MECHANISM Original Filed March 19, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2, 1936.

. H. BANKER 2,042,454

CLUTCH MECHANISM Original Filed March 19, 1,932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nnentor GttornegS 4 Patented June 2, 1936 A CLUTCH MEcHANrsM Oscar H. Banker, Chicago, lll., assigner to New Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 19, 1932, Serial No. 599,898

Renewed April 5, 193,4

9 Claims. (Cl. 192-105) excess force that might be available through the actuating mechanism for these elements sothat the maximum clutching effort does not exceed a certain amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism wherein the clutch elements are moved into clutched engagement through the powerful action of a pair of double toggles.

A further object of the invention is to. provide a clutch construction smooth in action and nonchattering;

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism of the automatic or speed responsive type wherein the speed responsive elements act upon double toggle mechanism to actuate the clutch elements and said speed responsive elements have a lost motion connection with said toggle .mechanism for purposes more fully hereinafter described.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly dened by claims at the conclusion hereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of clutch mechanism embodying the invention, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is ay detailsectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail. sectional view taken on the line'3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4' is a detail sectional line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

` Fig. 5 'is a detail elevation view of certain of the parts showing certain modications;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 'I-l of Figgl.

Referring to the drawings, ,the numerals 8 and 9 designate generally the parts to be clutched together and in thev present instance the part 3 is thedriving member and the part 9 the driven member. The part 8 includes the shaft I0 and the support II secured to rotate therewith by the splined connection I 2, said support being held against longitudinal movement on the shaft I by a lock washer I3 keyed to said shaft and a nut I4 having threaded engagement with said shaft, there being also a retainer disk I5 interview taken on the posed between the hub I6 of the ashoulder I'l on the shaft I0.

The part 9 includes the shaft I8 having a flange I9 to which the clutch drum 20 is secured as by rivets 2|, said shaft having a bore 22 provided 5 with a bushing 23 into which the end 24 of reduced diameter ofthe shaft I0 projects and has a bearing.

Clutch elements 25 in'the form of semi-cylindrical shoes are provided with a suitable lining l0 26 and are generally channel shaped in cross section with rectangular pocketsj 21 formed centrally thereof to receive guide block extensions 28 formed as a part of the support II, the anges or sides of the channel at the centers of the shoes l being slotted as indicated at 29 to provide for some resiliency or flexing of the shoes.

Mounted at each end vof each shoe is a thrust block 30 having a spherically curved socket 3I and backed by a relatively'heavy spring 32 which 20 permits relative movement between the block and the shoe after a certain predetermined pressure has been applied to the shoe through the block, the spring being mounted in a housing formed between the shoe and a casing member 33 which 25 also is provided with inwardly extending stop support I I and vprojections 34 that engage shoulders 35 on the blocks whereby the springsl acting against the blocks are put under a predetermined initial compression pressure. These casing members 33 may 30 be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the end portion of theshoes.

The shoes 25 are held in a release position by `the sets of release springs 36, each of the springs 'of each set being anchored at its ends to pinsl 31 35 secured in the anges of the end portions of the shoes as shown more in detail inFlg. 4.

The shoes are moved into clutched engagement with the drum by a double toggle mechanism acting respectively on the ends of the 40 shoes. Each double toggle includes a toggle formed by. sets of links y38 and a toggle formed by the link 39 and a link 40. 'I'he link 40 is in the form of an equalizer member having its hub 4I mounted to rotate on the hub I6 of the Support 45 II and provided with diametrically disposed forked arms 42 pivotally connected by the pins 43 to one of the ends of the links 39. The other end of each of the links 39 is operatively connected or pivoted to the inner ends of each set of links 38 by a pin 44 which has an extension 45 slidably mounted in a guide slot 46 in the support II. The outer ends of each of the links 38 has a thrust bolt41 in threaded engagement therewith and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 48 65 and provided with a spherically curved head 49 adapted to seat in the socket 3I formed in the adjacent thrust block. l Y

' From the above described construction it will be noted that when a force is applied to the Joints between each of the sets of links 39 and 49 tending to move these links to an alined position thatl a thrust will .be imparted to the pivots between each of the sets of links 39 tending to move these links to an alined position and causing the pins 44 to travel outwardly in the slots 45 and that as a result of the combined action of each oi the toggles, the bolts 41 will act through the blocks 39 upon each of the ends oi' the vshoes andV thus bodily move the shoes or clutch elements 25 into engagement with the drum 29 and thus produce a driving connection between the shafts I9 and I9 through the support II, shoes 25, and drum 29, the extent of clutching pressure being governed by the pressure of the springs 32 which permit relative movement between the blocks 39 and the shoes after a certain pressure has been applied to the shoes by the toggles through these blocks.

vAs shown in Figs. 1 and l3 where the toggles are operated by speed responsive elements, the numeral 59 designates in each instance a lever pivotally mounted on a pin 5I on the support I I and having a weighted end 52 and a shorter arm 52' pivotally connected by a pin 54 to a link 55 which is operatively connected at its other end to the pin 43 preferably by a lost motion connection therewith through the slot 59 in said y link.

The levers 59 are moved to release position in each instance by a coiled torsion spring 51 anchored at one end 59 to the support Il and engaging the weighted arm 52 on its other end. The weight of lever 59 is, under certain conditions of use, in each instance, prevented from hunting by a spring pressed detent, shown in Fig. 7`as a detent 59 engageable in recesses 99 and 5I in the support II and releasably held in either of its positions by a spring 52 mounted in a bore 53 and backed by a plug 94 in threaded engagement with said bore. These detents provide sufiicient resistance to the outward movement of the weights so that they will fly out or be released as the case may be, with a dennite and positive snap action. Thus when a predetermined speed oi.' rotation of the shai't I0 has been reached, L

centrifugal forces acting on the weights or levers 50 will release the detents 59 from engagement with the recesses 59 and the weights will move outwardly to an expanded position. The initial movement of the weighted levers 59 to expanded position causes the links 55 to engage the pins 43 and act to apply the toggles as 'previously described. In reaching their maximum expanded condition the weights nest within the shoes and the detents 59 engage in the recesses 5i Vto restrain the weights from hunting. lit is also to be noted that the arrangement of the links 39 and 40 is such that these -links have substantially a straight line position when they are in applied or clutching position. Consequently, under these conditions the back pressure exerted by the springs 32 and blocks 39 on the toggles 38 has practically no reaction on the weighted lever 59 through the toggles 39, and 49. Therefore, the lost motionthis arrangement only the pressure `oi! the spring 51 needs to be overcome for the release. Where the weights are held by the detenta 59 in expanded position, the lost motion connection again is of advantage as it permits of the initial release 5 of the detents 59h from the recesses 5I before the weighted levers 50 move to a position so that link 55 can break the toggle joint between links 39 and 49. Thus this lost motion connection permits the full action of the weight releaseA 10 spring on its weight to release it from its plunger and then impart enough momentum to break the toggle joints of the clutch applying mechanism from their straight line position.

For manual operation the means for operating 15 the toggles may be arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the links 65, corresponding to the links 55 are connected by the pivots 43 to Athe toggle links 39 and 49 at one end and to the lever arms 56 -by pivot pins 61 at their other ends. 20 Each lever arm 65 is secured to a shaft 59 pivotally mounted on a support I5' which in the present instance has a hub portion splined to the sha-ft I9 as shown in Fig. 6. A crank arm 99 is carried on the exposed end of each shaft 59 and'25 is provided with a thrust finger 19 in the form of a conically headed bolt adjustably mounted in the i'ree end of each arm and secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 1I, said fingers adapted to engage the cone 12 formed as a part of the shift 30 collar 13 having a slidably splined connection with the splines 14 onthe shaft I9 and provided with an annular groove 15 for engagement with any suitable shifting fork. 'I'hus when the collar 13 is moved toward the lei't as viewed in Fig. 6, 35 the arms 69 are swung outwardly, thus causing the arms 95 to move the links 95 so as to tend to f aline the toggle links 39 and 49 and through them to act upon the links 39 to apply the clutch shoesy 25 to the drum 29, it being noted that in this 40 modied form there is no lost motion provided between the links 55 and the pivots 43.

In each of the `forms above described it will be noted that the clutch elements will only exert a predetermined force determined by the springs i5A 32 regardless of excess force that might be available to operate the toggle linkage mechanism that moves said shoes into clutching engagement with the drum 29.

ing of the blocks 39 permits of an automatic takeup for wear in the friction lining. The preloading spring pressure of the springs 32 is suchas to give the full load torque capacity for which the clutch is particularly designed even thoughA 55 the travel of the blocks 39 may become less by the constant use of the clutch.

It is also to be noted from the drawings that the clutch shoes are not normallyvof the same circular contour as the interior of the drum and as a result, during anapplication the central part of each of the shoes rst engages the drum and thereafterthe ends of the shoes are swung in eiect about this center of engagement into contact with the drum, the shoes being somewhat iiexible, as previously noted, thus producing a gradual smooth `and non-chattering engagement of the clutch elements. Furthermore, the driving of the driven member through the shoes is effected through the keys 29 and not through the toggles that operate the shoes so that there is no Itlis alsoto be noted that the yieldable mount- 50.

load they may be made oi' simple and light construction.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. -In a clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member, clutch shoes for connecting said members together in driving relation, a set of toggle links interposed between the ends of said shoes and adapted to move said shoes to clutch position, a second set of toggle links operatively connected to each of the first sets of toggle links to operate said rst set of toggle links, and means for'simultaneously applying an actuating force to the joints of each of the second sets of toggle links including speed responsive elements and a lost motion connection between said elements and said joints.

2. In'a clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member. clutch shoes for connecting said members together in driving relation, a set of toggle links interposed between the ends of said shoes and adapted to move said shoes to clutch position, a second set of toggle links operatively connected to each of the liirst sets of toggle links to operate said iirst set of toggle links,means for simultaneously applying an actuating force to the joints of each of the second sets of toggle links including speed responsive elements and a lost motion connection between said elements and said joints, thrust blocks on said shoes with which the rst set of toggle links engage, and spring meanscooperating with said blocks to predetermine the amount of clutching force applied to said shoes. 4

3. In a clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member, clutch elements for connecting said members together in driving relation, double toggle linkages connected with each of said clutch elements, speed responsive means for moving one set of toggles.

of each linkage to actuate the other set of toggles of this linkage to apply said clutch elements, means for restraining the movement of said speed responsive means in either contracted or expanded position, said speed responsive means having lost motion connection with the above mentioned set of toggles.

4. In a clutch, the combination of a drive shaft, a driven shaft provided with a drum, a pair of oppositely disposed shoes operatively connected with said drive shaft, means for bodily moving said shoes into engagement with said drum comprising sets of toggle links and yleldingly mounted thrust members on the end portions of said shoes with which said links engage and through which they exert a certain predetermined clutching force, means for guiding the pivotal connections of each set oi.' said toggle links in a substantially straight path, and sets of toggle links connected respectively to the first named sets of toggle links and each of said last named sets of links having pivotal connections movable to bring the links into substantial alinement with each other, and means for imparting an operating force to the second named sets of toggle links.`

5. In a clutch, the combination ofua rotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member, clutch elements for connecting said members together in driving relation, double toggle linkages connected with each of said clutch elements, and speed responsive means operatively connected with the jointures of one set of toggles of this linkage to apply said clutch elements.

6. Ina clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member, clutch elements for connecting said members together in driving relation, double toggle linkages connected with each of said clutch elements, speed responsive means for moving one set of toggles of each linkage to actuate the other set of togglesA of this linkage to apply said clutch elements, l

means for restraining the movement of said speed responsive means iny expanded position, said speed responsive means having lost motion connection with the above mentioned set of toggles.

'7. In a clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable .driven member, clutch `elements for connecting said members together in driving relation, a set of toggles operatively connected with the end portions of each of the clutch elements, a second set of toggles operatively connected with the joints of the toggles of the first set and including links formed as a part of an equalizing member, and vspeed responsive means including pivotally mounted weighted levers operatively connected to those joints of the toggles including said equalizer.

8. In a clutch, the combination of arotatable drive member, a rotatable driven member, clutch elements for connecting said members together in driving relation, means acting directly on said clutch elements to release the same, centrifugally operated means for applying said clutch elements including a set of toggles operatively connected with the end portions of each of the clutch elements, and a weighted member operatively connected to each set of toggles, spring means for moving said weighted menbers to a contracted position, said last named spring means providing the only force for the return of said Weights when said clutch elements are engaged. f

9. In a clutch, the combination of a rotatable drive member, a rotatable drum having a flange, clutch shoes engageable with the inner side of said ange for connecting said member and drum together in driving relation, means for releasing said clutch shoes, a set of toggles operatively connected with the end portions of each of the clutch elements to simultaneously move them into driving relation with said drum, centrifugally operated means for actuating said toggles, and means providing for the release of said clutch shoes at a lower speed than they are engaged. f

OSCAR H. BANKER. 

